El Pollo Loco

4.2
685 reviews

About

Mexican RestaurantCatererChicken RestaurantFast Food Restaurant
While some things have changed over the last few decades, El Pollo Loco's delivery of fresh, authentic food has not. Everything starts with whole chickens that are slowly marinated in a special recipe of herbs, spices, fruit juices and garlic. The chicken is then expertly fire-grilled to perfection the authentic way - on our signature open-flame grills - then hand cut into your favorite Mexican entrees. We put that same dedication and care into our handmade guacamole, salsas and dressings every day. At El Pollo Loco in Oceanside,CA, we believe that when real food meets real fire the result is great taste that will keep you coming back again and again.

Details

  • DeliveryAvailable
  • Drive-throughAvailable
  • [Free/Paid] wi-fiNot available

Location

El Pollo Loco
483 College Blvd, Oceanside, CA
92057, United States

Hours

Reviews

4.2
685 reviews
5 stars
398
4 stars
157
3 stars
55
2 stars
26
1 star
49

What are people saying?

AI-generated from recent customer reviews

Food Quality

Customers frequently praised the flavor and freshness of the food, but there were complaints about portion sizes and occasional poor quality.

Service Issues

Many reviews highlighted inconsistent service, with reports of rude staff, mistakes in orders, and issues with charging for items that were previously complimentary.

Cleanliness

The restaurant was often noted for its cleanliness, though some customers mentioned that tables were not always clean.

Value for Money

While some customers felt the prices were high for the portion sizes, others appreciated the value of meal deals.

Customer Experience

Overall, customer experiences varied widely, with some enjoying friendly service while others reported negative interactions with staff.
  • SZ
    Saul Z
    Nov 4, 2025
    5.0
    Great as always.
  • EM
    Emma Myer
    Sep 8, 2025
    5.0
    I just love the chicken it has so much flavor. Family friendly with a ton of options.
  • EJ
    Ellen Juarez
    Aug 20, 2025
    1.0
    Very small pieces of chicken manager seems like he’s rude no want to refund me back money because of their mistakes they make in my food.
  • RP
    Ron Pitkin
    Aug 5, 2025
    3.0
    Well after coming to this El Pollo loco for 15 years something finally happened. My wife ordered a side salad and got it to the table and she got back up and went and said I didn't get any salad dressing and the lady said that she was going to be charging her $0.60 for salad dressing in 15 years. I've never paid for any salad dressing. I kind of made the experience here at this El Pollo loco feel bad but I've never seen this lady that was working behind the counter before our dinner was good but that was a bad experience on service Park. She finally did give my wife a little dabbet of salad dressing less than a tablespoon and didn't charge us after going through some kind of hassle about it was going to be
  • MM
    Melissa Mumma
    Jul 20, 2025
    1.0
    We ordered through GrubHub, over $90 in food. We received 3 salads. We called this location and got told that our food was there, and that we could come pick it up... Why would we order it for delivery if we need to come pick it up. COMPLETELY MISSING THE POINT 👉, no more business for you from us....

Frequently Asked Questions About El Pollo Loco

What are the operating hours of El Pollo Loco in Oceanside, CA?

El Pollo Loco is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM.

Does El Pollo Loco offer delivery services?

Yes, El Pollo Loco offers delivery services for your convenience.